Yellowstone National Park

[brandon]

I'm going to begin this post by saying that Yellowstone National Park is one of the most amazing places I've ever been and if you ever get a chance to go, please do.

 

Now I guess I should explain the circumstances that lead me to Yellowstone...

 

On January 24th, I got a call from my Grandpa. My father had passed away. I flew back home to Windsor, Ontario on monday the 25th and began planning the funeral and all that other stuff associated with a death...not fun. Being that I'm the executor of my fathers estate, I've had a lot of responsibilities thrown my way. In order to deal with all this stuff properly, I have to be in Windsor.

 

I now had to figure out a way to move home, and already being home made that kind of tricky. Flying back to Vancouver would be expensive and I would have to either rent a U-Haul truck or ship my stuff home, which is also very expensive. It turned out the cheapest way for me to get back to Vancouver and get my stuff home was to drive. My stepdad was generous enough to let me use his truck and that was it...now time to plan my route.

 

It would have been nice to check out all the provinces since I have never made that drive before but I decided to drive through the U.S.A. instead. It's a more direct route and the gas is cheaper. As I was mapping out my journey, I noticed my route would take me fairly close to Yellowstone National Park. If the Discovery Channel has taught me anything, it's that Yellowstone is a place you just can't pass up.

 

So that's how I ended up in Yellowstone. Ready to hear what it was like???

 

Ready or not, here it goes...

 

If the Discovery Channel has taught me anything about Yellowstone, I was in for a day of watching Bison grazing in roadside meadows, Bighorn Sheep head-butting on rocky slopes, and packs of wolves hunting down weak Elk. Now I may not have seen the above mentioned animals doing what the DC depicts them doing, but I did see all of those species, and then some. In the winter there's only one road open to wheeled vehicles. It's the road at the north end of the park that goes from Mammoth to Cooke City. There's no loop so you basically drive to Cooke City and back. That drive took about 6hrs in total including stopping to take photos...in that 6 hrs, I saw the following animals:

 

Elk

American Bison

Pronghorn Antelope

River Otters

Bald Eagles

Wolves(2)

Coyotes(3)

Bighorn Sheep(1)

 

I guess it's time for the photos.....so here ya go

 

There's also a video if you're interested

 

Coyote with a mouse

 

Some Bison shots

 

 

 

Bald Eagle

 

Bighorn Sheep

 

 

River Otters

 

 

 

and lastly, a Wolf photo.....this wolf was very far away and I only took a photo because it was the first wolf I've ever seen so I couldn't pass it up

Edited February 12, 2010 by brandon

[phiphntek]

Very sorry to hear of you Dads passing.When I lost my Dad I did the same thing.Head straight outdoors to enjoy the natural world he taught me to love. Any time Im in the outdoors I think of him.Im sure you will also.

Awesome photos !!

[danc]

So sorry to hear of your fathers passing Brandon. No doubt that the detour to Yellowstone was a much needed break for you. The photos are wonderful. It looks like a beautiful place. Those Otters sure know how to pose.

[danbouck]

Sorry to hear about your father.

 

Those pictures are amazing

[brandon]

Thanks for the comments guys. After such a successful trip to Yellowstone the first time, I just might be stopping in again on my way home so I may have some more photos to post in the next week or 2.

[fishing n autograph]

Awesome photos buddy! Keep up the great work!

[Paully]

PBS / WNED is broadcasting a special tonight on yellowstone national park at 10:00 pm eastern time. ...

Edited February 19, 2010 by Shore_Lunch